The police union asked the state’s attorney to appoint a special independent prosecutor for the case.

“As tragic as this situation is, none of the officers involved are responsible for the death of Mr. Gray,” Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 President Gene Ryan wrote to Ms. Mosby. “To the contrary, at all times, each of the officers diligently balanced their obligations to protect Mr. Gray and discharge their duties to protect the public.”

Many Balitmoreans who protested in the wake of Mr. Gray’s death, took to city streets to express approval for Ms. Mosby’s actions.

At the corner of North and Pennsylvania avenues, where the worst of the rioting took place Monday after Gray’s funeral, the mood was far different than it had been the rest of the week.

Drivers honked their horns. As buses stopped in front of the subway station, whoops and hollers came from inside the vehicle as the doors opened.

But there was no large gathering at the intersection immediately after the announcement. Still, nearly 100 police in riot gear were deployed to the intersection.

Ciara Ford of Baltimore expressed surprise at the decision to prosecute.